Register a Foreign Company Branch in Bordeaux: French Translation and Filing Checklist

To register a foreign company branch in Bordeaux, prepare the parent company’s current records, proof of the Bordeaux branch address, and the branch manager’s details before opening the online filing. The Greffe du Tribunal de commerce de Bordeaux directs the complete registration file to France’s INPI Guichet unique. Its local checklist calls for an original foreign registry extract issued less than three months before filing and French translations where applicable.

Key takeaways

• File online through INPI: the Bordeaux Greffe directs branch registration files to the national INPI Guichet unique. The CCI Bordeaux Gironde offers optional paid formalities assistance, but it is not the registry.
• Time the foreign extract carefully: the Bordeaux checklist asks for an original company registry extract issued within the previous three months.
• Confirm the translation form before ordering: the checklist says French translation is needed where applicable. It does not say that every document must be translated by a French sworn translator. The branch manager’s copy-conformity statement is a separate requirement.
• Make the Bordeaux address work for mail: provide proof of the right to use the premises and identify the company on the mailbox so registry correspondence can reach it.

Who this guide is for

This guide is for companies incorporated outside France that plan to open their first French branch in Bordeaux, Gironde, Nouvelle-Aquitaine. It is aimed at overseas founders, directors, company secretaries, and advisers assembling a French registration file from parent-company records. English-to-French is a practical example, not a claim about the most common language pair in Bordeaux; public local data does not establish the relative frequency of languages used in branch files.

A typical packet includes a recent foreign registry extract, current parent-company statutes, proof of the Bordeaux branch address, beneficial-owner information, identity and declarations for the branch manager, and a power of attorney if someone else handles the formality. This guide is especially useful when the extract may expire while authentication or translation is arranged, or when it is unclear whether the recipient needs an ordinary French translation or a traduction assermentée.

How to register a foreign company branch in Bordeaux

A succursale is a French operating branch of its foreign parent company, rather than a separate French company. This guide focuses on registering that branch and preparing its documents. Choosing a branch rather than forming a French subsidiary changes the legal structure and filing packet; if the choice is still open, ask a corporate adviser to assess it before ordering translations.

The registration route is France-wide. Bordeaux-specific practical details are the local Greffe checklist, optional CCI assistance, the regional judicial-expert directory for sworn translators, and the address and mail requirements for the Bordeaux branch.

1. Confirm the branch route and activity. Make sure the French presence is meant to operate as a branch of the existing foreign company. Check whether the activity is regulated and requires a permit, qualification, or other supporting evidence. The Bordeaux Greffe checklist calls for activity-specific approvals where they apply.
2. Settle the Bordeaux address. Arrange a lease, business domiciliation contract, or other proof that the branch can use the premises. If the manager’s home is proposed, confirm that the arrangement is suitable for the filing and that company mail can be received there.
3. Request current parent-company records. Order the foreign registry extract close enough to filing that it will still meet the Bordeaux Greffe’s three-month limit. Gather the current statutes and records showing who can represent and bind the parent company.
4. Confirm French translation requirements document by document. Ask the Greffe or your filing adviser which records need French translation and whether a sworn translator is required. Confirm this before ordering translations, especially for the registry extract, statutes, and any resolution or authority document used to show signing power.
5. Prepare the branch and beneficial-owner information. Assemble the branch manager’s identity document and applicable declarations, the beneficial-owner declaration, and any required power of attorney. Check that names, dates, addresses, and signing authority match across the source records and the online form.
6. Submit and monitor the INPI filing. Upload the complete file through the Guichet unique and save the filing receipt and copies of the documents. Monitor the account for correction requests. If a decision notice identifies the Greffe as the reviewing authority, contact that authority about the requested change; use the portal’s support route for technical problems.
7. Keep the registration and correspondence accessible. After approval, retain the issued company record, filing confirmation, and final document versions. Tell the property manager or domiciliation provider who may receive official mail, and make sure the company name is visible at the mailbox.

The Bordeaux Greffe’s foreign-company branch checklist is the local starting point for the document list, filing route, and displayed fee. Recheck it before submitting because administrative details and charges can change.

Bordeaux’s document checklist and translation decisions

Parent-company registry extract

The Greffe asks for an original extract from a foreign public register issued less than three months before filing. The checklist says it should be translated into French where applicable. If the issuing registry provides an electronic original, confirm that its format will be accepted before ordering a paper copy or translation.

Current parent-company statutes

Provide the current statutes rather than an outdated incorporation draft. The Greffe’s checklist says to translate them into French where applicable and asks for the copy to be certified as conforming by the branch manager. That signature requirement concerns conformity of the copy; it does not automatically mean a translator must be sworn.

Bordeaux branch address evidence

Prepare the lease, domiciliation agreement, or other evidence showing the right to use the premises. Ensure the address is consistent across the evidence, filing, and mail arrangements. If an address document is in another language, ask whether the receiving authority needs it translated.

Beneficial-owner declaration

Prepare the declaration with the date and original signature required by the Bordeaux Greffe checklist. Keep the ownership details consistent with the parent-company records and the information entered in the online form.

Branch manager, representative, and activity documents

Prepare the manager’s identity document and the applicable non-conviction and filiation declarations. If a representative handles the formality, include the required power of attorney. For a regulated activity, add the relevant permit, qualification, or approval. Requirements can vary with the manager’s situation and the branch’s activity, so use the current local checklist rather than copying another company’s packet.

The official French phrase traduits le cas échéant en langue française means translated into French where applicable. It is not a blanket statement that every foreign company record must be translated by a court-listed translator. Likewise, certifié conforme par le responsable de la succursale refers to the branch manager’s responsibility for the copy’s conformity; it is not the translator’s sworn status.

In France, traduction assermentée refers to a translation made by a translator listed as a judicial expert. If the Greffe, a bank, or another recipient expressly requires this form, consult the current Cour d’appel de Bordeaux expert directory and contact a listed translator for the required language pair. Its directory covers the court’s wider jurisdiction, so a listed expert may not be based in Bordeaux city. If sworn translation has not been specified, confirm what is needed before paying for it.

Translation, translator status, a copy-conformity statement, notarization, and apostille or legalisation address different questions. The Bordeaux checklist does not say that the translation itself must be notarized. Whether a source document needs authentication depends on its origin and the receiving authority. Ask before ordering authentication; it is not a substitute for French translation. For a brief explanation of related terms, see certified versus notarized translation.

INPI filing, Bordeaux support, and local mail logistics

The INPI portal is the filing route; the Bordeaux Greffe handles registry review and publishes the local branch checklist. The CCI Bordeaux Gironde is a separate support option. Its Service Formalités des Entreprises advertises paid assistance with business formalities under a mandataire arrangement and receives clients by appointment. It is at 17 Place de la Bourse, CS 61274, 33076 Bordeaux Cedex; its published phone number is 05 56 79 50 00, with weekday telephone hours of 8:30–12:30 and 13:30–17:00. The CCI page lists assistance with commercial-company registrations, but ask whether it will handle your specific foreign-company branch file before booking or paying. A CCI appointment or callback is not the government’s review time.

The Greffe and CCI both have Place de la Bourse addresses, but going there does not replace online filing. The Greffe directs applicants to the Guichet unique; the CCI provides optional paid assistance, not registration approval or government endorsement. Check the CCI’s current service details before relying on its appointment or phone arrangements.

Mail is a practical part of the Bordeaux file. The Greffe specifically says that when the branch address is the legal representative’s home, the company name should be clearly identified on the mailbox and arrangements made with La Poste for business mail. The registry sends Kbis extracts and correspondence to the declared address. A missing company name or unreliable forwarding can mean an important letter is returned or missed. Confirm the exact company name on the mailbox, domiciliation instructions, and filing address before submission.

If a branch manager plans to reside or personally carry on activity in France, check that question separately from the company’s registration. The applicable rules depend on nationality and residence. The French government’s guidance on foreign nationals creating a business in France explains that distinction; seek qualified advice for an individual case.

Cost, timing, and what local data can tell you

The Bordeaux Greffe page currently displays a charge of €60.38, including €7.26 for filing acts. Treat that as the amount shown on the page, not a complete setup budget: translation, foreign-document authentication, CCI assistance, legal advice, and activity permits may be separate. Recheck the local checklist and payment screen before filing.

The Greffe’s branch page does not publish an average Bordeaux processing time for foreign-company branch files. Public local data also does not establish a branch-specific registration volume, the languages used in these files, or a standard translation price. Do not plan around a promised number of days or a claimed local “usual” language pair. Allow time to obtain a fresh extract, confirm translation status, and answer any correction request. The three-month extract limit is a concrete planning constraint: ordering it too early can make it expire while other parts of the packet are being prepared.

What applicants and filing professionals have reported

Two reports outside Bordeaux point to portal-summary issues worth checking, but neither is an official rule or a measure of current Bordeaux processing. On the French government’s Services Publics+ feedback platform, a filing agent in Nord reported in January 2024 that the start date for a foreign company’s first French establishment did not appear in the INPI summary, preventing Greffe validation; 14 users marked a similar experience. In a separate LinkedIn post, a French formalities practitioner described a foreign company’s establishment file being rejected twice after INPI and the Greffe gave conflicting answers about whether the corporate object should appear in the generated summary.

These are individual reports, not proof that the same issue remains or that it occurs in Bordeaux. Their practical lesson is limited: review the generated summary against the source documents before signing, save screenshots and submission records, and read the correction notice carefully. Do not copy a workaround from someone else’s case; ask the authority responsible for your file to clarify its own request.

Translation and filing options

Commercial translation services

• 9h05 International: its public site lists a Bordeaux address at 45 rue Grangeneuve, 33000 Bordeaux, and phone 05 57 82 43 96. It describes translation services that include company and legal documents. Ask whether the assigned translator is listed for the required language pair if your recipient requires a French judicial-expert translation; confirm scope, status, delivery format, and revisions in writing.
• Aquitaine Traduction: its public site lists 345 avenue d’Arès, 33200 Bordeaux, phone 05 56 48 18 77, and business and legal translation services. Ask whether it handles your exact corporate records and whether the proposed translation status matches the recipient’s requirement.
• CertOf online translation: CertOf offers document translation and formatting with a Certificate of Translation Accuracy and digital PDF delivery, according to its service pages. It may fit a file whose recipient accepts that form. CertOf does not claim to provide a translation sworn before the Bordeaux Court of Appeal.

These are comparison options, not endorsements. Before ordering, send the provider the recipient’s exact wording, complete source documents, language direction, and deadline. Ask how stamps, handwritten entries, and page layout will be handled and what happens if the recipient requests a correction. For details about the CertOf certificate, see who signs a CertOf translation certificate and its published translation quality metrics.

Public and administrative resources

• INPI Guichet unique: submit the branch registration file and review its status or requests for correction.
• Greffe du Tribunal de commerce de Bordeaux: check the local foreign-branch checklist, displayed fee, and registry instructions.
• CCI Bordeaux Gironde, Service Formalités des Entreprises: consider its paid, appointment-based help if French-language portal fields or document handling are a barrier; confirm that it handles foreign branches.
• Cour d’appel de Bordeaux expert directory: find a listed judicial expert if the receiving authority specifically requires a traduction assermentée. The directory does not assign or endorse an individual translator.

After registration: check suspicious directory invoices

Newly registered businesses across France can receive paid business-directory solicitations that resemble official registry or government notices. The DGCCRF warning for professional-directory offers notes that newly registered businesses can be targets. Read the sender, service terms, and small print before signing or paying. A directory offer is not automatically a statutory registration charge because it arrived after a Kbis or looks formal.

The DGCCRF describes SignalConso as a reporting route and advises businesses to contact their departmental consumer-protection service when appropriate. For a local Gironde contact, the Direction Départementale de la Protection des Populations (DDPP) is at 5 Boulevard Jacques Chaban-Delmas, CS 60074, 33070 Bruges Cedex; phone +33 5 24 73 38 00; email [email protected]. Its published public reception is 9:00–12:00 Monday to Friday or by appointment, and phone hours are 9:00–12:00 and 14:00–16:00 on weekdays. Check the DDPP Gironde page for current arrangements. This is a France-wide business risk with a local departmental contact, not evidence of a higher incidence in Bordeaux.

Frequently asked questions

Which documents does the Bordeaux Greffe request for a foreign-company branch?

The checklist includes an original parent-company registry extract issued within the previous three months, current statutes, proof of the French branch address, beneficial-owner information, documents for the branch manager, and a power of attorney if someone else handles the formality. Regulated activities may require additional approvals or qualifications. Check the current Bordeaux Greffe list before filing.

Do foreign company records need a French sworn translation?

The Bordeaux checklist does not state a blanket requirement for sworn translation. It calls for French translation where applicable. Ask the receiving authority which records need translation and whether it requires a translator listed as a French judicial expert. If so, consult the Cour d’appel de Bordeaux directory.

Does the branch manager certify the translation?

The checklist’s copy-conformity instruction applies to the current statutes copy and identifies the branch manager. That is different from a translator’s certification or sworn status. Follow the exact instruction on the checklist; do not treat the two statements as interchangeable.

Can I submit the Bordeaux branch file in person at the Greffe or CCI?

The Greffe directs the complete registration file to the INPI Guichet unique. The CCI offers optional paid assistance by appointment, subject to confirming that it handles your foreign-branch file. Neither a CCI appointment nor a visit to Place de la Bourse replaces online filing.

How much does registration cost, and how long will it take?

The Greffe page currently displays €60.38, including €7.26 for filing acts. Verify the amount before paying and budget separately for translation, authentication, and optional advice. The local page does not give an average review time for foreign-company branch files.

What should I do if INPI asks for a correction or the file appears stalled?

Read the notice and status in your INPI account, compare the requested item with the uploaded file and summary fields, and keep dated copies of the submission. If the notice identifies the Greffe as the reviewing authority, contact it about the substance of the correction. Use the support route shown in your account for a portal technical issue.

Is a business-directory invoice received after registration mandatory?

Not merely because it arrived after registration or resembles an official notice. Check the sender, small print, and whether you agreed to a paid listing. The DGCCRF’s professional-directory guidance explains warning signs and reporting options.

Prepare the translation packet before you upload

For statutes, registry extracts, board resolutions, and signing-authority records, give the translator the complete document, including seals, annotations, and reverse pages. Send the recipient’s wording about French translation or sworn status, and keep the source files with the final PDFs. For ordering steps, see how to upload and order a certified translation; compare PDF, Word, and paper delivery if the portal or adviser specifies a format.

If a certified translation is the form your recipient accepts, you can submit your company documents to CertOf for translation and digital formatting, or contact the team with the recipient’s instructions. CertOf’s role is document translation and preparation. It is not a Bordeaux registration agent, French lawyer, accountant, court-appointed translator, or government representative, and it cannot promise that a particular Greffe will accept a translation form it has not required or approved. If your recipient expressly asks for a French sworn translator, use the official court directory.

Disclaimer: This guide is practical information, not legal, tax, immigration, or accounting advice. Requirements can depend on the parent company’s country, the branch’s activity, the responsible person, and the receiving authority. Recheck the current Bordeaux Greffe checklist and confirm translation and authentication requirements before filing or ordering services.